Our interests in Northam stem from an Evans ancestor. We have therefore followed up that connection and inevitably become more widely involved in various families in Northam, especially Appledore. Fortunately there is a very good Family Histyory SOciety and extensive transcription has been done.
Here are some notes to explain some of the background.
I published the following on an earlier version of the this webpage
This page is about how I hope to be helpful in acting as the Online Parish Clerk. Two key bits of background about me and my interests: I do not live in Northam or even in Devon; so the emphasis is on the "online" element of the work; My initial interest in the area was stimulated by a link to my Evans family in South Wales. I have been surprised by how extensive and long lasting the Evans family grouping is in Appledore and that has taken me into building a a broader picture - edging towards being a "One Place Study".
Clearly the main job is to encourage the provision of more information online, indexed and linked via the GENUKI site. There is already a large amount of information available there. Huge thanks are due to the contributors including David Gale, David Carter, Elizabeth Howard and others. However I have been encouraged to see if we can get even greater coverage.
I will look through all the current lists of sources and information and see if there are any obvious candidates for inclusion in the on-line archive.
Please: let me know if you have seen useful sources and think they should be transcribed. Ideally offer to do it! But if not we will try to get things done; volunteer if you would be prepared to help with transcriptions or are already doing them. Send me anything that you think would be useful - but check the guidelines on copyright coverage and I will need to be assured that you have the permission of the original owners of the data both for the transcription and for its publication.
I can make the facilities on this web site available as a home for transcripts and other documents for those who do not have a convenient alternative. The documents will be linked to the Northam page on GENUKI.
I will: Prepare a short note on the style and format of documents that will be easy (for me) to put on line. I am happy to use raw documents (txt or word processor) and transfer them into html; maintain a list of work in progress, for those who are willing to have their efforts recorded.
Please let me know: if you are creating documents so that we can exchange views about how best to do it.
The general guidance on OPCs emphasises that we should not be looking up data where it can be readily found online. My aim is to make any documents that I gather from others searchable online.
I will initially: aim to respond to any queries about Northam sent by email or as comments on this site. But remember that I am not the local history expert and the response is likely to be a pointer to where you can find things yourself monitor the Devon mailing list for relevant queries and attempt to help.
I see my role as helping to connect people up, ideally in an active way, rather than acting as the main source myself. It would be good to know who else is interested in Northam and what might be better done from working jointly.
I will: maintain a list of interests that people express (so long as they are happy to have that made public).
Please let me know: about interests you are prepared to share with others; about other forums and groups (online or real world) so that we can connect up and avoid duplication.
I am a bit unclear about what more this entails beyond the sum of the things described above. My interests are in understanding more of the linkages between this area and Wales. That means I need to understand the pattern of several of the local links not just those in my direct family.
Suggestions are welcome!
This is simply my attempt to clarify the way in which I might help as OPC. Please comment in general on this. Or just get started on the suggestions I make above. Comments can be made by email to me.
Online Parish Clerks are volunteers who support genealogy by gather information in the way described above. They are not paid and they should not be confused with the official Parish Clerks who are appointed by local parish councils.